Please help with my malawi tank

[ozzy47]

Hi just wandered if anyone has any ideas why i keep getting a blanket of green slimey algae across the sand only at tthe front of my malawi tank. I have never suffered this in any of my other tanks, i have tried no lighting, reduced lighting etc etc frequent water changes but nothing i do seems to clear it, it doesnt affect the water parameters but just looks hideous. Any ideas please.

 

[Ferris]

Is that part of the tank in direct sunlight at any part of the day? That's one possibility.

Another idea would be to leave the tank lights off completely for a long period like a week. Once algae is established, it can take this long to get rid of it, 2 or 3 days without light will not be enough. Your fish will be fine without lights for this length of time although you may lose any live plants you have. These can be easily replaced of course.

Hope this helps!

 

[Losi]

Do you have any plecs or other fish to clear the algae?

I have two bristlenose in my Malawi tank and have had no trouble with algae.
I have the lights on a timer that come on from 4:30pm to 10pm and the tank does not get any direct sunlight.

 

[ozzy47]

yeah i have three bristle nose and one syno.

 

[vantgE]

I have this too in my sand pulled a big long piece of it out and droped it in the fry tank but noone ate it. my tank is faceing the window and prbally in the most sunlighted spot of the entire house. the best thing to do is scrape pull it off maually


Actually is this on top of the substrate or in it?